Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has said the club need "more than youth"
if they are to wrestle the Premier League title away from Manchester United.

While the likes of United, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with big-money moves for some of the world's best players, Arsenal have been relatively quiet on the transfer front.

The Gunners have spent £10m on 23-year-old Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax, but other than that Arsene Wenger's time has been spent tying up new deals for the likes of Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Lukasz Fabianski and Jack Wilshere, while warding off the interest of Barcelona and Real Madrid in Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal have been linked with a £2.5m move for Blaise Matuidi from St Etienne, but he is considered one for the future as Wenger continues with his policy of nurturing young talent.

Alisher Usminov, one of Arsenal's biggest shareholders, does not believe the club have the cash to compete with United, Chelsea, Manchester City etc after his offer to spend £60m on big names was rejected.

Chairman Ivan Gazidis has said the club hope to push on and improve on last year's fourth-placed finish, but Almunia does not think this is possible without money being spent bringing in experience and quality.